UFC 12 – Judgement Day

UFC 12

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UFC HISTORY

UFC 12: Judgement Day was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 7, 1997 at the Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Alabama. The event was seen live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on home video.

UFC 12 was the first UFC event to feature weight classes; heavyweights (200 lb and over) and lightweights (199 lb and under) battled in two separate mini tournaments, each consisting of two semifinal bouts and a finals match.

The event also featured a Superfight between Dan Severn and Mark Coleman. The fight would unify the UFC Superfight Championship with the UFC tournament championship and determine the first ever UFC Heavyweight Champion. Mark Coleman was a late substitution for Don Frye, who had earned the rematch with Severn after winning the Ultimate Ultimate 1996, but was unable to participate in UFC 12 because of injuries he had suffered in that previous event. Frye never returned to the UFC. “Judgement Day” also featured two alternate bouts in case of tournament injury.

UFC 12 marked the first UFC appearance of Vitor Belfort, who won the heavyweight tournament and was only 19 years of age. UFC 12 also marked the first appearance of commentator Joe Rogan, who handled backstage interviews for the event and interviewed the winners of the main events.

After being removed from many pay per view carriers, and with mounting pressure from politicians such as Senator John McCain, the UFC had continuing troubles finding a venue, and a state, that would host UFC 12. It was first announced that UFC 12 would be held in New York City, to which it was ultimately denied sanctioning rights. Next, it was announced that UFC 12 would be held in Oregon, which soon banned the event. Finally, the UFC returned to Alabama, where it appeared in the small city of Dothan, located about 200 miles southeast of Birmingham.

The UFC would continue to hold events exclusively in Southern US States (aside from occasional shows in Japan and Brazil) until 2001, when the UFC was sanctioned by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission.

RESULTS SPOILER

Lightweight Finals

Weight class

Method

Round

Time

Notes

Lightweight

Jerry Bohlander

def.

Nick Sanzo

Submission (Neck Crank)

0:39

[a]

Lightweight Semifinals

Lightweight

Jerry Bohlander

def.

Rainy Martinez

Submission (rear naked choke)

1:18

Lightweight

Yoshiki Takahashi

def.

Wallid Ismail

Decision

15:00

[b]

Lightweight Alternate bout

Lightweight

Nick Sanzo

def.

Jackie Lee

TKO (strikes)

0:48

UFC Heavyweight Championship

Weight class

Method

Round

Time

Notes

Heavyweight

Mark Coleman

def.

Dan Severn

Submission (neck crank)

2:57

[c]

Heavyweight Finals

Heavyweight

Vitor Belfort

def.

Scott Ferrozzo

TKO (punches)

0:43

Heavyweight Semifinals

Heavyweight

Scott Ferrozzo

def.

Jim Mullen

TKO (punches)

8:02

Heavyweight

Vitor Belfort

def.

Tra Telligman

TKO (cut)

1:17

Heavyweight Alternate bout

Heavyweight

Justin Martin

def.

Eric Martin

Submission (heel hook)

0:14

Sanzo replaced Takahashi who broke his hand fighting Ismail.

Takahashi broke his hand during the bout, and was unable to continue in the tournament.

Coleman defeated Severn to become the inaugural UFC Heavyweight Champion.

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UFC 12 – Judgement Day was last modified: January 5th, 2017 by Pepito Grillo